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BREAKING: Falana heads to court against IBB over June 12 detention, 32 years after
A team of lawyers is now being assembled by Femi Falana (SAN), renowned human rights activist and lawyer to launch a legal onslaught against Ibrahim Babangida, former Military President over illegal detention and rights abuse, some 32 years ago.
Falana, who claimed he was detained by Babangida alongside Gani Fawehenmi, another fiery human rights, who died in 2009 as well as Segun Maiyegun, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), for seeking for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, said he was resurrecting the case based on the former military ruler’s latest admittance that Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO), Abiola, actually won the election.
The validation by Babangida through his book, A Journey in Service, unveiled to the public during the launch in Abuja, on Thursday, is an indication that there was no basis for his detention, Falana, a guest on Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television, told his host.
Giving details of the events, 32 years ago, Falana, who described their detention, prosecution, and trial as deliberate, indicated that the team of lawyers, was currently readying the papers to approach the court, recalling he had to go through a harrowing experience in 1993, after they were arraigned at the Gwagwalada Chief Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for treasonable felony.
Maintain that Babangida’s actions had long-term consequences for Nigeria’s democracy, which required legal redress for the wrongful prosecution, he stated how he was also stripped of his freedom during his detention at Kuje Prison.
Giving details of the incident, he narrated how they eventually regained their freedom after turning the case around by insisting that it was actually Babangida and his men that should have been standing trial for removing a legitimate government through a coup in 1983.
Hear him: “Even though we were asking for bail, we turned our arraignment to the trial of junta. And I recalled on that occasion, Chief Fawehinmi told the judge, Chief Magistrate Mallam Bulama that those who should be standing trial for treason, should be in the dock were in the Villa, led by General Babangida.
“Because they had sacked, they had overthrown a democratically elected government on December 31, 1983. So, those are the people that should be standing trial. And of course, when it came to my turn, I made it clear to the judge, this section of the law, Section 41 of the Criminal Code Act, which provides anybody who forms an intention to remove the president of his country, during his term of office, otherwise than by constitutional means.
“I said, my lord? The man calling himself my president has no fixed term of office. So, I couldn’t have been brought here. Of course, the judge adjourned. Two weeks later, he granted us bail very liberally, N20,000 and one surety in like sum.
“They couldn’t go back to court, so that we don’t turn the thing into a full trial of General Babangida and others. So, it simply ran away. The case was struck out on liberal grounds of N20,000 and one person in like sum.
“I have assembled a team of lawyers. They are looking into it. Because he has now brought it to life by now admitting that there was no basis for my prosecution. Because he now says Abiola won the election, which was the basis of our protests. He is also saying, you know, it shouldn’t have postponed the terminal date of his transition programme.
“Which, again, we are fighting. So, which means there was no basis for our prosecution. It is malicious. Again, massive infringements of our rights, human rights. Because when you keep me in Kuje prison, you deny me my right to liberty, my freedom of movement. You also violate my right to choose the government of my country.
“Point to Article 13 of the African Charter on Human Rights. Because the man who did it has just come out to say, I did it wrongly. Echoing the ruling of the court in Abuja in the case of Femi Falana vs. Republic of Benin and others, the court stated that any violation occurring after three years cannot be pursued in the jurisdiction.
“But later, you know, the improvement of the jurisprudence of the court has now come to the conclusion. I think that was in the case of Federation of Journalists, you know, Gambia and the government of that country that once you are talking of serious abuse of human rights, statute of limitation does not apply.”
“It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose, and resolve, they can indeed move mountains.”
These were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted to Tuesday’s agreement of the 10th Senate to reverse the controversial provisions in the Electoral Amendment Bill, in which they earlier retained the discretionary provision of transmission of results of election electronically by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the coalition party, attributing the U-turn to the resilience of Nigerians, described the development as a victory for democracy and people-powered civic action.
Abdullahi, a former Minister, who called on Nigerians to stay alert and continue mounting pressure on relevant authorities until the amended bill secures presidential assent, is duly gazetted, and takes full legal effect, urged Nigerians to maintain eternal vigilance.
Following a groundswell of outrage across the country, regarding its initial decision to retain the 2022 provision and subsequent protests, which saw Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 and Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor Rivers State, teaming up with a group of Nigerians on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the Senate eventually bowed to pressure mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit elections to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), real time, but with a proviso to use manual collation only as a contingency in cases of technological failure.
Hailing the development, ADC stated that the recant by the lawmakers was beyond a simple legislative reversal, but a reflection of the resilience, alertness, and growing political awareness of Nigerians from all segments of society.
The statement, added: “The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill that it passed is a significant victory for the Nigerian people.
“This outcome is not merely a legislative U-turn. It is a testament to the resilience, vigilance, and rising political consciousness of Nigerians across all walks of life. From street protests to digital campaigns, the Nigerian people have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to them.
“In the face of the ruling APC’s habitual disregard for due process and democratic values, the Nigerian people have reaffirmed their place as the ultimate custodians of our democracy.
“In this regard, the African Democratic Congress salutes the courage and tenacity of Nigerians. We commend every citizen who raised their voice, whether online or offline, to resist legislative mischief that threatened to undermine our electoral integrity.”
Calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast, stressing that the development represents only a step in the right direction, not the final victory, the party, added: “We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic.
“We must remain vigilant to ensure there are no last-minute betrayals or technical ambiguities, the kind that often lead to ‘stories that touch.’ Let this be a reminder that democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference. It demands participation, persistence, and sometimes, peaceful defiance.”
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened to stem the political schism between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Siminalayi Fubara, the governor that would have led to the latter’s impeachment.
But the Minister, left a caveat – this is the last time the President would be making such an intervention – as he added that both sides would now have to work according to the terms agreed at the parley.
In the latest faceoff which started early in the year, 27 members of the assembly said to be loyal to Wike, had launched a fresh impeachment move against the governor – the third since he took office in 2023, accusing him of sundry infractions of the constitution including spending money without appropriation.
Fubara, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), last year, was believed to have run to the President for succour, whose intervention is believed to have halted the move.
Giving details of the rapprochement, Wike told reporters in Abuja, on Tuesday that the President playing a fatherly role stepped in to resolve disputes between the two parties.
His words: “He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene.
“This is the second time Mr President is intervening and I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene.”
Wike, who has since been linked to the crises from the outset and in firm grips of the lawmakers, also pointed out his own role in the matter, saying: “I have told them to obey Mr President and I know that they would not hesitate.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday finally sent the name of Usman Isa Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State to the Senate for confirmation as as a non-career ambassador after last month’s embarrassing mix-up in which his name suddenly appeared for posting to Turkey without legislative clearance.
Tinubu, in a correspondence conveying the appointment, which was read by Godswill Akpabio, said: “I write for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as non-career ambassador,.
“Whilst I hope that the senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senate president, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After reading the letter at plenary, the Senate President, said the matter would be referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report back to the Committee of Whole within one week.
Electoral Act: Don’t go to sleep, maintain eternal vigilance, ADC tells Nigerians
This is the last time Tinubu will intervene in Rivers’ row – Wike
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